how far can water reach crops in minecraft

Water in Minecraft can hydrate farmland crops up to four blocks away in all directions—horizontally, vertically, and diagonally—as long as the water and farmland are on the same level or the water is one level above the farmland. This means a single water block can hydrate a 9x9 area of farmland (81 blocks total, including the water block itself), effectively hydrating up to 80 farmland blocks around it. If the water is removed, the soil will randomly start to dehydrate and eventually revert to dirt, causing crops to grow slower or stop growing altogether. Water does not hydrate blocks that are more than four blocks away or on different vertical levels beyond one block height difference. For efficient farming, placing water blocks eight blocks apart allows optimal hydration coverage with walking space in between.